Need a cheap motor exerciser

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iwire

iwire

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So in my own basement I have a sump pump that must work during certain times of the year, other times the sump is dry for months at a time.

This is the kind of pump I am using.

p_SCP_245_08.jpg



The problem that has now happened three times is that during the dry time the shaft gets tight in the bottom bushing. I have to pull the pump out, open the impeller housing and turn it by hand a bit then I can get the motor running.

The only reason I have not burned up the motor yet is because I do check the pump pretty often and had gotten in the habit of manually running it dry for short periods of time. I will let too much time go and when I try it out it will not turn.

So what I am thinking (I am open to any suggestions / mickey mouse ideas as long as they are cheap. :) ) is setting up a timer that will run the pump maybe 15 seconds every few days or a week not really sure how often. I don't want to kill the pump over doing it either.

Anyway this being in my own home codes and listings are down low on the priority list, function over form is fine.

TIA, Bob
 
iwire said:
So in my own basement I have a sump pump that must work during certain times of the year, other times the sump is dry for months at a time.

This is the kind of pump I am using.

p_SCP_245_08.jpg



The problem that has now happened three times is that during the dry time the shaft gets tight in the bottom bushing. I have to pull the pump out, open the impeller housing and turn it by hand a bit then I can get the motor running.

The only reason I have not burned up the motor yet is because I do check the pump pretty often and had gotten in the habit of manually running it dry for short periods of time. I will let too much time go and when I try it out it will not turn.

So what I am thinking (I am open to any suggestions / mickey mouse ideas as long as they are cheap. :) ) is setting up a timer that will run the pump maybe 15 seconds every few days or a week not really sure how often. I don't want to kill the pump over doing it either.

Anyway this being in my own home codes and listings are down low on the priority list, function over form is fine.

TIA, Bob
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Sounds like a timer would work.
I wouldn't have thought it prudent to run it for more than a few seconds when dry. Those that I've come across don't like to be run dry.
How often? Maybe you could base that on how often you were giving it a manual start in the dry.
 
Besoeker said:
I wouldn't have thought it prudent to run it for more than a few seconds when dry.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind there is no shaft seal on this, it is simply a steel shaft running through a fairly loose bushing of unknown material.


Sounds like a timer would work
Click to expand...

I am hopping someone can suggest one that can do both functions, trigger it once every so many days and also run it for X amount of seconds.

I am trying to avoid using say a one shot timer to trigger a off delay timer. :)
 
jerryalan said:
the float switch requires about an inch travel to start the pump, perhaps you could keep a puddle of water in the pit below the float?
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The pit is crushed stone so it drains when the water table drops.

However I could place the pump in a bucket about 4" deep and that would keep the bottom bearing wet at all times.

I will be thinking on this one. :)
 
Well....you said you'd consider all suggestions, so...is there any way to divert some water to your pump basin to exercise the system? My dad has issues in cold weather with his sump pump, so I cut in a wye and valve to divert the water to his laundry tub in the winter.
 
I have a similar set up in my basement, but there's always some water in the bottom.

I put in a dehumidifier, draining into the pit.

would work for you drained into a cut down bucket just high enough to trigger your pump.

any higher and you'd isolate your float from the ground water.
 
iwire said:
Keep in mind there is no shaft seal on this, it is simply a steel shaft running through a fairly loose bushing of unknown material. [/quotr]
Yes, but I still don't think it's a good idea dry for any longer than a few seconds at a time.

iwire said:
I am hopping someone can suggest one that can do both functions, trigger it once every so many days and also run it for X amount of seconds.

I am trying to avoid using say a one shot timer to trigger a off delay timer. :)
Click to expand...
Essentially to automatically do what you are now doing manually?

The one we used for that sort of application was a Relpol Multifunction Timer. It was fairly inexpensive £20 or about $24 at current rates.
Time ranges from 1s to 10 days and there 10 selectable functions
They are represented there by Factorymation.


http://www.factorymation.com/Timing_Alternating_Sequencing_qs/Asymmetric-Cycle-Timers_SB
Click to expand...
 
It seems like if you want to have something automated to dump water in the pit so you're not running it dry, you're going to have to know how much water it takes to exercise it. If you have a dry gravel pit, you'd have to know the rate of absorption and the water table level, all of which is more work than reasonable and subject to change throughout the season.

How about piping a water line with a spigot and just go turn the spigot on until it runs, and do this at the same time you do something else periodically (like pay the utility bills).

Plan B: At the end of each wet season, put a little dab of grease on the shaft if that's where it's sticking.
 
qcroanoke said:
Or a five gallon bucket of water poured in.
That's what I do.
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That is more work than I am not doing now. :D

All have to do is lift the float now.

I am not the least bit concerned about spinning it dry for short period.

I just ran it apart for 15 minutes this morning getting loosened up from being stuck.
 
Besoeker said:
Yes, but I still don't think it's a good idea dry for any longer than a few seconds at a time.
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Of course you do. :)

Can you explain what you see happening?

It been run dry a number of times and still the shaft is so tight in the bushing it seizes up. I will be fine if it wore some clearance in there.
 
iwire said:
Of course you do. :)

Can you explain what you see happening?

It been run dry a number of times and still the shaft is so tight in the bushing it seizes up. I will be fine if it wore some clearance in there.
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And I thought you said it is simply a steel shaft running through a fairly loose bushing of unknown material?

And you wanted ideally less than one minute run time with an interval of some days. I suggested a route for that.
There are, no doubt, other ways of achieving a solution but I was trying to be helpful.
 
Anyway this being in my own home codes and listings are down low on the priority list, function over form is fine.

No, you didn't just say that out loud.......
Is it even on GFI? :)
 
qcroanoke said:
Anyway this being in my own home codes and listings are down low on the priority list, function over form is fine.

No, you didn't just say that out loud.......
Is it even on GFI? :)
Click to expand...

It has been, not right now.

I consider my basement finished. I finished upgrading it long ago so it must be a finished basement right? ;)
 
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